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1992 Mazda MX3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 11 of 44 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

30 reports
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168,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Seat BeltsSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED CONTINUOUSLY. THE COIL SPRING WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE FAILURE OCCURRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED CONTINUOUSLY. THE COIL SPRING WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE FAILURE OCCURRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE FOR BOTH FAILURES (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 97V116000 - SUSPENSION: FRONT: SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS AND 97V211000- SEAT BELTS: FRONT: WEBBING) YET THE PARTS WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER BUT WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE TWO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HIM A RETURN CALL BUT NEVER DID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ODI #10414636

120,000 miles · Mar 16, 2010
Seat Belts

TL* CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA MX3. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT EXTRACT THE WEBBING PROPERLY. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT A PRIOR RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 1998. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 97V211000 (SEA…

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TL* CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA MX3. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT EXTRACT THE WEBBING PROPERLY. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT A PRIOR RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 1998. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 97V211000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: WEBBING). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY HAZARD INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,500.

NHTSA ODI #10320085

205,658 miles · Nov 6, 2009
Seat Belts

1992 TO 1993 MAZDA MX-3 AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RECALL MAZDA DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO HONOR THE LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IN SPITE OF THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS PROVIDED. THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NHTSA ORDERED THE RECALL AND NOT MAZDA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291250

113,000 miles · Nov 1, 2005
Seat Belts

DT: THE CONTACT STATED RECALL 97V211000 FOR THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WAS ISSUED. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT FASTENED. WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT WILL NOT LOCK TO KEEP THE OCCUPANT FROM MOVING FORWARD. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THE DEA…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED RECALL 97V211000 FOR THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WAS ISSUED. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT FASTENED. WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT WILL NOT LOCK TO KEEP THE OCCUPANT FROM MOVING FORWARD. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THE DEALER WANTED HIM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL COMPONENT WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED ON VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10141402

92 miles · May 27, 2004
Seat Belts

THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK AND IS UNABLE TO RETRACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE CABLE WAS TWISTED INSIDE OF THE HOUSING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10074396

53,000 miles · Jun 7, 2003
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 97V211000 IS RECURRING WITH SAME SYMPTOMS OF SEAT BELT NOT RETRACTING WHEN DOOR IS OPENED TO EXIT VEHICLE. IS THE CAUSE NOW THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN FIRST REPAIRED AND IF SO, DOES THE SAME RECALL APPLY AS IT SEEMS THE CAUSE REMAINS A DEFECT? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10021184

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2002
Seat Belts

PASSENGER'S FRONT SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT BUCKLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8012233

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2002
Seat BeltsSuspension

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO NORTHPARK MAZDA/ISUZU AND THE GUY AT THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE MY RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. HOWEVER IF THAT IS TRUE THEN WHOMEVER DID IT BEFORE PUT DEFECTIVE PARTS ON IT BECAUSE THEY ARE MESSING UP TO THIS DATE. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH BOTH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS AND BOTH FRONT CO…

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I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO NORTHPARK MAZDA/ISUZU AND THE GUY AT THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE MY RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. HOWEVER IF THAT IS TRUE THEN WHOMEVER DID IT BEFORE PUT DEFECTIVE PARTS ON IT BECAUSE THEY ARE MESSING UP TO THIS DATE. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH BOTH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS AND BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS.

NHTSA ODI #758148

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2002
Seat Belts

AUTOMATIC SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT AROUND THE DRIVER. BELT WILL NOT STAY FASTEN.ED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8003686

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Seat Belts

WHEN DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR RECALL 97V211000, NO WORK OR MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. CONSUMER STATED THAT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAILS HAVE BECOME STUCK. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE RECALL OBLIGATIONS HAVE BEEN MET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891817

Official recalls

3

15V674000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 19, 2015

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.

97V211000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Nov 18, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ONE (WITH ADDITIONAL DUST LIP) IN VEHICLES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM. IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, THE RAILS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED WITH MODIFIED RAILS IF THEY EXCEED THE INSPECTION CRITERIA.

97V116000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Jul 22, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WASHINGTON, DC. IN AREAS WHERE LARGE QUANTITIES OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, CORROSIVE PITS CAN DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING. REPEATED USE CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE COIL SPRING TO BREAK AND A TIRE COULD BE PUNCTURED FROM CONTACT WITH THE BROKEN COIL SPRING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GUARD ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL PREVENT THE BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING THE TIRE. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, MAZDA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FOR THE LIFT OF THE VEHICLE. IF OWNERS HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THESE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, DUE TO ROAD SALT DAMAGE, MAZDA WILL REIMBURSE THESE OWNERS FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

RQ98001 · Front Coil Spring Fracture

Opened Mar 3, 1998 · Closed Nov 16, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

There is no summary currently available

EA94039 · Auto Restraint System Fail

Opened Nov 30, 1994 · Closed Nov 26, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE94075 · Alternator Fires

Opened Oct 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available